The Department of Communities is working with family day care services to improve the safety of young children in facilities that have swimming pools, spas or water features.
Responding to the completion of a coronial inquest into the death of a two-year-old who drowned at a family day care service in 2015, the Department has offered free online training courses to improve the safety of the services, particularly those operating with swimming.
Minister for Community Services, Simone McGurk said the Government was committed to ensuring safety reform at family day care services so a tragedy like that never happens again.
“The online training program has been specifically designed to assist family day care providers to understand their role and requirements when new regulations come into effect,” Ms McGurk said.
“Royal Life Saving Society of WA has been at the forefront of water safety for decades, which is why they were commissioned to develop this training program on our behalf as a trusted partner.”
She acknowledged the young victim’s mother, for her continued advocacy and work in securing the safety outcomes.
Ms McGurk said a transition period was introduced in 2020 to ensure family day care providers and educators had appropriate time to prepare for increased regulatory safety requirements.
“Under the updated regulations, which will come into effect later this year, approved providers will be required to undertake monthly inspections of family day care educators operating at residences with swimming pools, spas or water features as part of the improved safety outcomes. Inspections previously occurred on an annual basis,” the Minister said.
“To support this process, Royal Life Saving WA was commissioned to develop an online training program that offers clear and practical guidance for approved providers to carry out inspections of pools, spas and the outdoor environment.”
Further information about the online training course can be found on the Department of Communities website at this PS News link.
